For rural Americans drawn to the Make America Healthy Again movement, supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr does not necessarily mean believing Donald Trump's health policies are delivering results.

A new poll by The Associated Press and KFF has found that among rural voters who identify with MAHA, 68 per cent said the Trump administration's health policies had either had a negative effect or no effect on the health of people in their communities.

Overall, about eight in 10 rural voters said the administration's health policies had either had a negative effect or no effect on the health of people in their communities.

Rural MAHA Supporters See Little Change

The poll, conducted from August 12 to 24 among 2,241 rural registered voters, offers a detailed look at how health policy is being received outside America's major cities. The survey has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points for the full sample.

Iowa pastor Mike Jager, 58, identifies with MAHA and said he supports Kennedy's approach, but said the Trump administration's health policies have had only a "minimal" impact on his community.

'It's a beginning,' Jager said. 'It's a big ship to try and turn around and course-correct.'

Kennedy has promoted MAHA through initiatives focused on issues including ultra-processed food, chronic disease, agricultural chemicals and vaccine policy. For Jager, those issues are personal. Living in rural Iowa, he has watched relatives and neighbours deal with disease and has concerns about agricultural chemicals and unhealthy food.

Kennedy has promoted MAHA

His view illustrates the distinction emerging in the poll. Some rural voters appear receptive to the problems Kennedy highlights while remaining unconvinced that federal policy has yet produced noticeable improvements.

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Health Costs Remain a Daily Concern

For many rural voters, the debate is less about political branding and more about whether healthcare is affordable and accessible.

The KFF-AP survey found that 66 per cent of rural voters were very or somewhat worried about being able to afford healthcare for themselves or their families. Nearly half also said their communities lacked enough doctors or other healthcare providers, while 35% said there were not enough hospitals.

Donna Klocke, a 71-year-old farmer from Iowa, said cancer has affected her family and neighbours.

'It's just very prevalent,' Klocke said. 'We're in a farming community. We use chemicals and pesticides and all kinds of things that aren't necessarily good for us.'

Klocke supports the idea of MAHA but does not identify with the movement. She also expressed concern about Kennedy's past opposition to vaccines, particularly amid the return of measles.

The affordability issue is also visible in Texas. Kim Solis, 62, said the monthly premium for insurance purchased through the marketplace rose from nothing to $166 (£125), while her copays increased and her deductibles each rose by $2,000 (£1,515). The conversion uses a 2 October 2026 rate of roughly $1 (£0.758).

MAHA and MAGA Do Not Always Match

The poll also reveals why the labels MAHA and MAGA cannot simply be treated as interchangeable.

Rural voters remain strongly Republican overall. About 54 per cent identify as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents, while 32 per cent identify as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents. Among rural Republican voters, 75 per cent say they support the MAGA movement.

Yet support for MAHA can centre on specific health concerns rather than a broader political identity.

Iowa State University political scientist David Peterson described the situation as a 'weird split' between what Kennedy promotes and what Trump says and does. He noted that rising healthcare and grocery costs can create tension for people who want to follow MAHA principles but struggle to afford healthier choices.

In Kentucky, 65-year-old Alma Johnson voted for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024 and said she 'pretty much' likes how he is running the country. Still, she does not consider herself a MAGA devotee, saying she prefers to 'think for myself'.

Johnson said MAHA appeals to her because of its emphasis on healthier eating and food policy, although she said she has not seen much impact from the administration's healthcare policies.

For voters facing shortages of doctors, hospital access problems and rising medical bills, the central question reflected in the poll is less about the label attached to a movement and more about whether its promises are visible in everyday life.

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